Dispensing nozzle with automatic cutoff



Dec. 14, D. DISPENSING NOZZLE WITH AUTOMATIC CUTOFF Filed Aug. 3, 1945 \INVENTGR [90M Bc Wmmz/n,

Patented Dec. 14, x 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING NOZZLE WITH AUTOMATIC CUTOFF David Biermann, Cook County, Ill. Application August 3, 1945, Serial No. 608,713

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a filling nozzle for filling a random container with liquid, the nozzle being equipped with a valve that is manually opened and automatically shut off when the. level of the liquid in the container being filled reaches a given point on the nozzle.

The invention is particularly well adapted to filling closed containers through a filling pipe or bung hole requiring that substantially the entire nozzle outlet area be available for the stream of liquid discharging into the container and the escaping air.

Although I do not wish to limit this invention to the filling of automobile gasoline tanks, this invention is well adapted for this purpose, and has a distinct advantage over other types which automatically shut the fuel off when the tank is full. Filling of the fuel tank in modern automobiles is usually not done by inserting the nozzle directly into the tank; but through a curved pipe which extends out from the end of the tank. When the tank is full, the fuel usually backs up into the pipe at such a rapid rate that it spills over before it can be shut oii by manual or the usual automatic means, In order to avoid spilling, I have provided a means for sealing the space between the nozzle and the filling pipe so that, even though the fuel rushes backup the filler pipe it cannot spill over before the fuel is I automatically shut oil. This reverse surge of fuel is utilized to actuate the shut-off mechanism; although the presence of the surge is not essential, as successful operation is almost independ ent of rate of flow.

This invention relates particularly to a nozzle in which the flow of liquid is manually controlled and regulated, and in which the flow is automatically cut off by action of a reverse flow of fluid through the air vent, provided in the nozzle structure, when the container becomes approximately full.

As long as the container is only partly filled, the air which is displaced by the incoming liquid must be allowed to escape. This is done by providing a passageway extending from near the nozzle opening to the open air. This passageway is also connected to a chamber, within which is a diaphragm that aotuates the mechanism that in turn causes the liquid to be shutoff. At the exit I of the escape passageway is a one-way valve, loaded in such a manner that airis allowed to escape, but not liquid. The fluid-then enters, the chamber and creates a pressure which acts on thediaphragm to trip the shut-off mechanism. The nozzle may then be removed from the'filler 2 opening within a moment or so, after the liquid is allowed to drain from the main discharge and the vent passage.

' The object of my invention is to provide a filling nozzle which will shut off either when the operator removes his hand from the valve lever or automatically when the tank is full.

A further object is to provide a filling nozzle which will shut off automatically when the tank is full and which will function equally well when the valve is opened only part way, giving a reduced flow, as when the valve is opened wide.

Another object is to provide a seal between the nozzle and the entrance of the container being filled, which will prevent liquid from surging or splashing over at the moment the container becomes full.

A further object is to provide a passageway in the body of the nozzle to allow air to escape from the container, as liquid is allowed to enter.

A further object is to provide a filling nozzle in which the valve is controlled by an operating lever, the fulcrum of which is latched in place during operation and released only when liquid rises in the container to a point on the nozzle.

These and other objects will be brought out more fully in the following description, taken togetherwith the following figure: The single figure shows a side cut-away view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

"Referring to the figure, valve body I'll is threaded at l2 for attachment to the usual flexible liquid supply line. Flow of liquid is controlled by valve disk 14 which seats against valve body at l6. V'aive disk I is raised and guided by valve stem l8, which is piloted at the upper end by recess 26 formed in sealing cap 22, which is screwed into valve body H) by means of threads H compressing gasket 24-. Valve disk H is held against seat 16 by compression spring 26. Valve stem l8 extends out through the wall of valve body 1-0 at 2 while packin nut 28 and packing 30 are provided to prevent liquid from seeping out past stem Ht.

Valve disk H is opened against the action of sprin 28 by means of hand-lever 32 which is pivotally' pinned to stem W by means of screw 34. Fulcrum end 35 of lever 32 rests against latch 36 at seat 38 providing a fulcrum for the manual operation of lever 32. Automatic closing of valve disk M is accomplished by the tripping of latch 36'by means described more fully later.

, .When valve disk I4 is raised from seat. [5, liquid will flow out through'spout 40; shown in this embodiment as a short length of pipe screwed by means of threads 4| into valve body 10. When in operation, spout is inserted into filler pipe 42 or bung hole of the container to be filled. In order to provide a force to actuate the automatic closing mechanism mentioned above and at the same time prevent liquid from spilling out of the filler pipe 42 at the instant the container becomes full, I have provided rubber seal 46 closing airspace left between spout 46 and the end of filler pipe 42 at 44, Seal 46 may be reinforced and positioned by flange 48 pressed over spout 40.

Air displaced in the tank by the incoming liquid is allowed to escape through vent pipe 50, mounted alongside spout 40 and extendin through seal 46. In the upper end of vent pipe 50 is inserted ball check 52 and check seat 54. Ball check 52 is prevented from getting out of position by means of pin 56 extending through vent pipe 50. Ball check 52 is proportioned relative to both size and mass such that normal flow of air escaping out vent pipe 56 will not force ball check 52 against seat 54, but in the event a liquid starts to escape, ball check 52 will immediately be forced against seat 54 and seal the escape passage.

It is possible to provide a ball check which will pass air, but not a liquid becauseof two factors: difference in resistance introduced by the ball on air and a liquid; and, diiference in the buoyancy of the ball in air and in liquid. A fluid flowing past the ball willtend to carry the ball along with it against the force of gravity acting on the ball. This force produced by the air and liquid can be calculated from known laws of fluid dynamics, expressed in the following equation.

F :K dM 1W where:

F is the resisting force,

Ks is a coefficient or constant, dis the diameter of the ball,

V is, the velocity of the fluid, and M is the mass density of the fluid.

Regarding the effect of buoyancy on the ball, this force will vary only with density of the fluid and the displacement of the ball. Thus, the total force acting on the ball due to the passage of a fluid may be expressed by the following equation:

where Fe is the total fluid force acting on ball, and Kb is a constant.

The variables in the above equation can be adjusted to provide a force when air is flowing at normal velocity, which is less than the gravity force acting on the ball. As long as air flows, ball check 52 will not be forced against seat 54. When gasoline starts flowing, the force tending to throw ball check 52 against seat 54 will be about 500 times that produced by air for the same velocity. due to the resistance-to the flow; and there will be an additional factor due to the difference in buoyancy of the ball in the two fluids. If the buoyancy factor Were large,- it would be possible to close the valve when a liquid reached the ball even though the velocity were small. Thus, it can be seen that the valve will remain open during the passage of .air for all ordinary velocities; but will close when a liquid tries to pass, even though the velocity is small.

This unique action ofthe vent valve makes possible relief of air, while the tank is being filled, and the building up of pressure in vent pipe 50 at the moment the liquid rises in the filler pipe 42 to point 58 on said vent pipe, at which time the liquid starts to flow out through said vent pipe. This pressure, created by the entering liquid is transmitted out through pipe 60 and into closed chamber 62. Gasket 6| is provided to prevent leakage. The roof of chamber 62 is composed of a pliable diaphragm 64 which rests against trip pan 66. Diaphragm 64 is fitted between cap 65, which forms the other Walls of chamber 62 and base6'l built integral with guard frame 10. Pan 66 is secured to latch 36 which in turn pivots about pin 68 mounted in guard frame 10. The pressure created in chamber 62 acts upon the exposed area projected by diaphragm 64 and forces pan 66 up, which in turn rotates latch 36 in a counter-clockwise direction about pin 68 allowing seat 36 to slide out from under fulcrum end 35. Spring 26 then forces valve disk 14 to close against seat l6, shutting off the flow.

As soon as lever 32 is released, spring 12, which is attached to guard frame '10 by means of rivet 13 returns fulcrum end 35 to seat 38, assisted by spring 14 which presses against latch 36. Spring 14 is mounted on valve body If! by means of pin 15.

Friction between fulcrum 35 and seat 36 is extremely important because the force to overcome it is limited by the pressure acting on pan 66, so I have devised a method for minimizing it, consisting of a downward slope to seat 38. The value of this is adjusted so that the component force transmitted by fulcrum end 35 acting parallel to the surface of the seat, due to the force of raising valve disk 14, is almost equal to the friction force. I x

Even though the fluid, upon reaching ball check 52 will cause it to seat against seat 54, there will be a possibility of a few drops escaping. In order to guard against this, I have provided absorbent material 16, such as felt, in air vent 18 above valve seat 54. This absorbent material will prevent the few drops of liquid seeping past ball check 52 from spilling on the surface of the container or automobile, as the case might be.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for insertion into a container to be filled with a liquid comprising in combination a valve body having a fluid passage therein, means for sealing the connection between said valve body and said container, a vent passage leading from within said container to the outside atmosphere, a check valve in said vent passage loaded to close only by the passage of a liquid from the container to the atmosphere, a self closing valve in said body, a manually actuatable lever pivotally mounted on a latch and engaging said self closing valve, said latch pivotally mounted on said valve body, a chamber closed by a diaphragm, a member attached to said latch and cooperating with said diaphragm for movement therewith, and a passage connecting said vent passage with said closed chamber to transmit pressure arising from the closing of said check valve and thereby implementing the release of said latch and the closing of said valve.

2. A device for insertion into a container to be filled with a liquid comprising in combination a valve body having a fluid passage therein, means for sealing the connection between said valve body and said container, a vent passage leading from the proximity of the exit of said valve body fluid passage past said seal to the atmosphere, a valve within the exit of said Vent passage adjusted to close only when a liquid starts to escape there from, a chamber closed by a diaphragm, a passage connecting said chamber with said vent passage, a spring loaded check valve in said valve body, a manually actuatable lever pivotally mounted on a releasable fulcrum seat for opening said check valve against the action of said spring, said fulcrum seat being inclined slightly to the normal of the force of action to permit easy disengagement, and a member pivotally mounted on said valve body and connecting said fulcrum seat with said diaphragm for movement therewith upon the instance of pressure forming within said chamber due to closing of said vent passage, said member releasing said fulcrum seat thereby.

3. A device for insertion into the opening of a container to be filled with a liquid comprising in combination a valve body having a fluid passage therein, a pipe extension fastened to said valve body for directing the flow into said container, a flange attached to and surrounding said pipe extension, a pliable gasket sealing said flange and said container opening against leakage of a fluid, a vent pipe mounted alongside said pipe extension and extending from the proximity of the extension pipe exit through said gasket and flange to the atmosphere, a ball check valve within the atmospheric exit of said vent pipe having a ball check weighted to be held in the open position 25 by the force of gravity and closed only by the combination buoyancy and resistance set up by the passage of a liquid being exhausted into the atmosphere, a chamber closed by a diaphragm, a pipe connecting said chamber with said vent pipe, a valve seat in said valve body, a disc valve 00- operating with said seat to close said valve, a stem mounted co-axially on said valve, a spring holding said valve against said seat, guides diaphragm for movement therewith causing said fulcrum seat to becom disengaged from said manally actuatable lever fulcrum end upon the instance of a pressure being created in said closed chamber, and springs cooperating with said levers to return said fulcrum end to said fulcrum seat when said manually actuatable lever is released.

DAVID BIERMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,336 Stewart Sept. 19, 1876 515,884 Schneider Mar. 6, 1894 1,513,581 Caumont Oct. 28, 1924 1,706,942 Smith Mar. 26, 1929 2,081,650 Tamminga et a1. May 25, 1937 2,083,078 Mayo June 8, 1937 I 2,320,033 Davis May 25, 1943 2,329,426 Valiton Sept. 14, 1943 2,343,903 Hammand Mar. 14. 1944 

